Musically, something interesting happened to us Hip Hop kids in the 1990s. Listening to artists like Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Dr. Dre, and A Tribe Called Quest, among others, we unknowingly became exposed to the old school of soul, funk and R&B music. Artists like Curtis Mayfield, Parliament Funkadelic, The Isley Brothers, and Earth, Wind and Fire, with their founder and mastermind behind its concept, Maurice White. For more clarity check out Bone’s “Budsmokers Only,” which samples “Reasons” by Earth, Wind and Fire.
Most of us didn’t know it was happening. Some of us didn’t care that these these were the records of our parents, brought back to life in the music and the culture we held so dearly. I know for a fact that when my Dad tried to explain to me that much of the music I was listening to was sampled from these very records, I didn’t want to listen. I just considered his collection of records old and dusty. I didn’t think music like that could have anything to do with my beloved Hip Hop.
Years later, I would find out just how dense I was when I discovered just how sample-heavy Hip Hop was. Just a few names of Hip Hop artists who sampled Earth, Wind and Fire reads like a laundry list of 90’s Hip Hop superstars: Jay Z, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Big Pun, Missy Elliot, Timbaland, DMX, Yo Yo and Ice Cube, and Naughty by Nature. And it continued on into 2000-era Hip Hop and R&B artists like Plies and Raheem DeVaughn. And these samples would not have existed without the original music. And the original music would not have existed without the musical foresight and genius of Maurice White.
White died on Thursday at the age of 74 at his home in Los Angeles. He battled Parkinson’s disease for years and finally succumbed. But, he leaves behind a long and storied musical legacy that includes 20 Grammy nominations, 12 American Music Award nominations, and over 100 millions records sold worldwide.
Formed in 1969 in Chicago, White eventually had the vision to combine several musical genres into one power band: funk, soul, R&B, disco, pop, rock, jazz, African, and even some elements of gospel. The result was a band that is seen as one of the most successful of the 1970s and ’80s, and one of the most influential of all time. Especially with songs like “Devotion,” “Shining Star,” Boogie Wonderland,” “After The Love Is Gone,” “That’s The Way Of The World,” and more. And of course, White’s creation and its impact Hip Hop artists, as well as artists of all genres of music, cannot be overstated.
All in all, our world was blessed with a powerful musical talent like White. Rest easy, Maurice.
A Tribute To Earth, Wind & Fire’s Maurice White by Ron Grant.
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